NEWARK – Members of the Essex County Democratic Committee, including Mayor Ras Baraka’s campaign organization, are seeking petition signatures as of press time to have Newark Council President LaMonica McIver succeed the late Cong. Donald M. Payne, Jr. on the July 17 special primary election ballot.
Gov. Phil Murphy (D-Rumson), on May 3, had directed Secretary of State Tahesha Way and State Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr. (D-East Orange) to hold a pair of special elections to fill Payne’s unexpired term. Murphy’s directive came the day after Payne, 65, (D-Newark) was given his last honors here at the Essex County Old Court House and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Murphy set the respective special primary and “general” election dates for July 17 and Sept. 18. – which meant that the Democrats among the 15 Congressional District 10 towns had to quickly select Payne’s apparent successor.
The Governor’s July 10 special primary date also meant that Essex Democrats and Baraka campaigners had to swiftly garner enough voter signatures and file “McIver for Congress” petitions with the Essex County Clerk – Elections Division before 4 p.m. May 10.
Murphy could have done what Gov. Chris Christie did when Cong. Donald Payne, Sr. died in office in 2012. Christie (R-Mendham) did not call for a separate set of unexpired term elections in addition to the scheduled CD-10 election that November.
The then-Newark Council President Payne, Jr. found himself simultaneously running for his father’s unexpired term and the following full two-year term – in 2012.
Murphy may have looked at the current U.S. House of Representatives’ makeup to have Payne, Jr. ‘s successor elected as soon as possible. Payne’s successor would be among 213 Democrats in a legislative body where Republicans have a 217 seat majority as of press time.
Jones, who is also Essex Democratic Committee Chairman, called a couple of meetings with delegates, candidates and power brokers May 4-5. They agreed to offer the candidacy to McIver – which she formally accepted May 6.
“I’m deeply honored and humbled to have received the Democratic endorsement for the 10th Congressional seat,” said McIver Monday. “Together, we have the opportunity to build upon the foundation that Congressmen Payne, Jr. and Sr. built and create a brighter future for our district – one where every voice is heard, every person is valued, and every community thrives.”
McIver, 38, is the current council president and is into her second term as Central Ward Councilwoman. She had been elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 as part of Baraka’s “Moving Newark Forward” ticket.
The power brokers and delegates from CD-10’s Essex County towns went with Baraka’s endorsement of McIver – but this was not a simple stamp of approval.
First, Baraka, Irvington’s Anthony “Tony” Vauss, East Orange’s Theodore “Ted” Green and Orange’s Dwayne D. Warren – who called themselves “The Four Urban Mayors” during the COVID pandemic – endorsed McIver before Jones and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo (D-Roseland) over five other possible candidates.
Second, the powers that be that Friday night put aside any feelings they have over Baraka’s run for the 2025 nomination for Governor. Some may favor one of the other three 2025 candidates and some others have not said who they favor.
Third, all six prospective candidates were Newark-oriented for a reason.
New Jersey’s largest city anchors CD-10’s 17 Essex, Union and Hudson county towns whole or in part as drawn by the 2020 Census. Newark holds the single largest Democratic delegate count.
CD-10’s “Local Talk” towns also include Irvington, East Orange, Orange, West Orange and Montclair’s Fourth Ward. There are delegates from Verona, Caldwell, and Essex Fells – of “West Essex” – plus Union County’s Union, Hillside, Roselle, Roselle Park, Kenilworth, Garwood and part of Linden plus the central part of Hudson County’s Jersey City.
It is to the understanding of “Local Talk” that Jones had consulted with the respective Union and Hudson county party chairpersons during Saturday’s delegate vote.
There may be supporters of Republican Carmen Bucco who were also seeking signatures and filing petitions before 4 p.m. Friday among CD-10’s towns. The clothier and founder of his namesake Rising Stars Foundation for foster children announced, on May 3, that he will also run in the July 17 and Sept. 18 elections. “They’re giving us seven days to come up with over 200 petition signatures,” posted Bucco on his Facebook page May 6. “The Governor has decided to call a special election with seven months until the (general) election to fill the seat for three months. My campaign has decided to that we’ll take part in the special election because the people deserve that.”
